Free A Muse for Mishka (Wiccan-Were-Bear #12) by R.E. Butler

the club, but he forced himself to put one foot in
front of the other, so that he could take his beloved out on a
date. A real one, not her eating in the cafeteria while he drank a
mug of heated SyBl.
    Rage and Vex walked on either side of Mishka
and Harmony, while the others brought up the rear. Security at the
club was very tight because it was not only a gathering place for
vampires but also where the coven lived.
    Their group moved into the garage, and Vex
strode ahead of them and opened the door to the town car.
    Mishka helped her in and settled next to her
on the plush leather seat. Vex shut the door and sat in the
passenger seat while Rage sat behind the wheel. Harmony peeked
through the tinted window, watching as Finn and Dolan climbed into
a stretch limo parked just ahead of the town car.
    “They’ll leave first,” Mishka explained, “and
drive past the front of the club. Protestors will believe that I’m
in it, and we’ll be able to leave the club unnoticed using a
private alley.
    She frowned. “Maybe we should stay home?”
    “Whatever for?”
    “It’s dangerous for you to be out in public.
You’re the king of the coven. Don’t you have enemies?”
    Vex snorted and tried to cover it up with a
cough. Mishka couldn’t help but smile.
    “First, love, I’m not the king. I’m the
master. And second, of course I have enemies. I’m five hundred
years old and master of the largest coven in the Midwest. But it
doesn’t mean that our guards won’t keep us safe, that I wouldn’t do everything in my power to ensure that we make it back
here in one piece.” He cupped her face and kissed her. “Being
powerful means many things, but it doesn’t mean that I will allow
anyone, particularly small-minded fools like the First Church
members, to tell me how to live my life.”
    “If you’re sure?”
    “Most certainly.”
    “Okay. I just found you. I don’t want
anything to happen to you.”
    “I have no intention of going anywhere, my
heart.”
    “Good.”
    She leaned against him, snuggling close, and
he wrapped his arms around her and closed his eyes for a brief
moment. It would be heaven if life weren’t dangerous for them, if
he could walk down the street with her and not worry about
protestors.
    “Ready, Mishka?” Rage asked as the limo
disappeared out of the garage slowly.
    “Yes.”
    After a brief pause, Rage pulled out of the
parking spot and circled the garage, heading for the back of the
concrete enclosure and the private entrance that led to the alley.
Eventually, the limo would meet them at the restaurant, but it
would take a detour designed to lose anyone who might follow
them.
    When they reached the restaurant forty-five
minutes later, Vex got out and opened the back door for them.
Mishka exited, and Harmony took his hand and slid out of the car,
holding a black clutch in her free hand.
    The parking lot was full, and several couples
stood around outside, talking and enjoying the evening. The limo
pulled up a few moments later, and in a heartbeat, he and Harmony
were surrounded by their guards and walking into the restaurant. He
could hear the clicking of the cell phones as people took pictures
of them.
    “Tell me they’re not going to put those
pictures online or something,” Harmony whispered as the maître d’
rushed toward them, his face alight with happiness.
    “At the very least,” Vex said. “You’ll be on
the news tonight for sure.”
    “We’re just going to dinner.”
    “He’s the master of the city, and he hasn’t…”
Rage’s voice died off, as though he struggled with what to say.
    Harmony rolled her eyes. “He hasn’t dated in
years, blah blah. All his memories are banging around in my brain,
don’t forget.”
    “Sorry, mistress,” he said, bowing
slightly.
    Her brows arched so high that Mishka was
surprised they stayed attached to her skin. Then she grinned. “That
was fabulous.”
    Mishka chuckled. “In public, the coven will
always address you